Volume 14, Issue 1, Spring, 2007
National Academies Utilizes Ben Anderson’s Work
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies commissioned Benjamin O. Anderson, M.D., Chair and Director of the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) to contribute to its report, “Cancer Control Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.”
Noting that cancer already represents a significant disease burden in low- and middle-income countries, the report focuses on opportunities to improve cancer prevention, surveillance, treatment, and palliative care. The IOM report recognized the BHGI as a “highly innovative effort” which can serve as a model program for resource-sensitive guideline development to address cancers in low- and middle-income countries. Chapter four in the report on resource-level appropriate interventions was based upon the paper written by Dr. Anderson, commissioned by IOM.
The BHGI, founded by Dr. Anderson and co-sponsored by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is an ongoing global health alliance devoted to breast health care of medically underserved women. The alliance is comprised of an extensive international network of government agencies, healthcare organizations, non-governmental organizations, for-profit and non-profit organizations, doctors, scientists, policy makers and advocates.